African countries deny flight permission to Taiwan's leader

China heaped praise on three African countries that denied overflight permission for the aircraft of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying its one-China principle was a norm of international relations. According to the Straits Times, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office denied that China had used economic coercion to ensure the flight was blocked. Taiwan had accused China of pressing the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to revoke permission for Lai’s aircraft to fly over their territories. He had been due to visit eSwatini this week. The small southern African nation is one of just a dozen countries to retain formal ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Lai originally planned to leave Taiwan yesterday to attend the 40th anniversary celebrations of King Mswati III’s accession. The secretary general of Taiwan’s presidential office, Pan Meng-an, said Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar unilaterally and without warning revoked flight permits for the presidential aircraft to cross their countries, reports The Guardian. ‘The actual reason was intense pressure exerted by Chinese authorities, including economic coercion, he said. Seychelles’ Foreign Affairs Ministry told Reuters the Taiwanese President’s plane had not been granted clearance for overflight or landing, in line with the government’s longstanding policy of not recognising Taiwan’s sovereignty. A Madagascar Foreign Ministry official also confirmed having denied an overflight request. Mauritius did not immediately respond to requests for a response. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, arrived in eSwatini days after the planned presidential visit to the African nation was abruptly cancelled. In a message shared after landing, Lin said Taipei would not be held back by ‘authoritarian forces’, reports The Independent.